Lingle committed to Hawaii caregivers

I think it's so wonderful that Gov. Linda Lingle has shined a spotlight on Hawaii's caregivers by proclaiming November as National Caregiver Month.

By releasing much-needed funds for two programs, she shows how committed her administration is to helping our state's elderly and caregivers now and into the future.

While caring for a loved one has many rewards, we know it's not always easy. Fortunately, the state is providing these families and our kupuna with the support they need and deserve. Thank you, Gov. Lingle!

Keani Rawlins
Honolulu

Don't force residents to live among B&Bs

The city has had little success in shutting down illegal bed-and-breakfasts and transient vacation rentals in residential neighborhoods (Star-Bulletin, Oct. 30). It now proposes that we simply legalize them, regardless of diminishing quality of life in our residential neighborhoods, reduced availability of affordable housing and lack of adherence to our development plans. Is the legalization of illegal activities the answer to the failure of our city government to enforce the law and protect the rights of law-abiding citizens? That would be capitulation to moneyed interests at the expense of the community.

If we are to rezone our neighborhoods from residential to resort, let's do it through the normal zoning process where the community has input and where all social, environmental and economic impacts are evaluated. Let's not do it through the back door as would the spot-zoning proposed under Bill 187. Let's not shift the power to rezone neighborhoods to financial interests and the shoulders of individual neighbors, which would pit neighbor against neighbor. That would make a mockery of our planning and zoning laws and would ignore the cumulative effects on the community as a whole.

Ursula Retherford
Kailua

Problems persist in beautiful Hawaii

After coming from the mainland and attending the University of Hawaii-Manoa in the late 1980s, I was always amazed at the natural beauty of the islands and saddened and dismayed at the actions of some residents.

I could never understand why people would throw their rubbish on the ground instead of in a can. I saw abandoned cars in the midst of beautiful scenery. I observed people who would seek random fights with "outsiders" or "haoles." I would meet children who seemed far behind their counterparts on the mainland when it came to math and other subjects. I would encounter people who, although native residents, could not speak English well enough to be understood and certainly were incapable of getting a job requiring communication skills.

I left the islands and hoped that time would eventually help these problems. I realized that the Hawaiian culture is one of the most beautiful in the world and does not include the aforementioned behaviors.

As we moved into the 21st century, I thought that with environmental problems becoming apparent around the globe, surely Hawaii residents would understand how precious and fragile their little part of this planet is and clean up their habits. I thought they would take examples of kindness from local leaders and role models such as Rell Sunn. I thought that the pointless fighting that occurs among mostly young men would abate and that youngsters would see the dead end that a lack of education causes and see the negative life faced by drug users. I thought locals would realize that tourists bring cash to the islands and that without them, the economy would decline and many would be out of a job.

I thought for sure the cries for autonomy would fade away as they observed people from all over the world trying to join our union of 50 states.

I now read that gang crime is up, trash remains a problem in Hawaii, there are cries for Hawaiian independence and the state's schools are considered some of the worst in the nation. What will Hawaii be like in another 25 years?

Mark Heinze
San Diego, Calif.

It's worth it to Mesa to appeal ruling

Why shouldn't Mesa Air Group appeal the federal Bankruptcy Court decision (Star-Bulletin, Nov. 1)? From what is clearly evident from the Superferry case as well as all appellate cases in Hawaii, the duration of time it takes for a case to get through the Hawaii appellate process will allow Mesa to become the dominant carrier in Hawaii, with either Aloha and/or Hawaiian forced out. The result will be sky-high airfares and less competition, exactly what the court determined Mesa sought when it entered our market.

Kimberly Case
Honolulu

Rents should be lower for business owners

On the front page of the Business section on Oct. 19 were two articles, "Office vacancy up in Honolulu" and "Rent hike forces WeePlay to close." Duh, haven't property mangers come to realize that small businesses have limits? After all the operating expenses, rent, taxes, insurance, phone/adverting, electricity, supplies and other costs, small-business owners could make more money working for the big-box companies.

Barbara Wilcox
Honolulu

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